The Role of Children in ‘Snowpiercer’: Innocence, Labour and Rebirth

In Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Snowpiercer’, children play a powerful symbolic and narrative role that extends far beyond their screen time. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the remnants of humanity live aboard a constantly moving train, the film uses children to represent innocence corrupted by power, the brutal exploitation of labour, and ultimately, the potential for societal rebirth.

At first glance, children appear in the film as symbols of hope and purity. In the tail section — the oppressed rear of the train — children are seen playing, clinging to some semblance of normal life amid squalor. Their presence highlights the human instinct to protect the next generation, even in the bleakest of circumstances. However, as the narrative unfolds, this innocence becomes a site of horror and injustice.

One of the most disturbing revelations in ‘Snowpiercer’ is the use of children as literal machinery to keep the train running. When the protagonists reach the engine room, Curtis learns that Wilford’s sacred engine, thought to be an eternal, flawless machine, is failing. Small children are being placed into tight compartments to manually perform the function once handled by technology. This horrifying twist transforms children from symbols of the future into tools of survival for a decaying system. It’s a brutal metaphor for how societies often sacrifice the well-being of the young to maintain the status quo.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

Furthermore, the film critiques how even the privileged classes exploit children. Earlier in the train, we see a school car where children of the elite are brainwashed through propaganda. They are taught to revere Wilford as a divine figure and accept the rigid social hierarchy. This illustrates how systems of control begin at an early age, shaping the beliefs and identities of the next generation to preserve power structures.

Yet, the film ends on a note of cautious optimism. Yona and Timmy, two children who survive the destruction of the train, step out into the snowy wilderness, possibly the last humans on Earth. The appearance of a polar bear suggests life is returning to the planet — and with it, the chance to start again. In this moment, children symbolise not only innocence and endurance but also the potential for a new beginning.

Through its complex portrayal of children, ‘Snowpiercer’ confronts audiences with the cost of systemic oppression — and the fragile but vital hope of renewal.

–Farheen Ali